In a new series of posts over the next few weeks, we’re going to take a look at each of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ position groups; analyzing which players are gone, which players are returning and which free agents might be on the team’s radar.
By any stretch of the imagination, the 2015 Dodgers rotation was fantastic. This group, led by Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, finished second in the Majors in ERA, third in batting average against, sixth in innings pitched and seventh in strikeouts.
Of course, all of those statistics are buoyed by the fact that the Dodgers had the best two pitchers in baseball this season, but considering everything the group went through, the back of the rotation deserves more credit than they received.
The Dodgers entered last season hoping to boast a rotation of Kershaw, Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson. Thanks to injuries, however, Ryu didn’t make any starts and McCarthy made just four.
For a team to lose its third and fourth starters for the entire season and to still finish as highly ranked as they did is astonishing. Even more astonishing, they did it while starting 16 different pitchers.
Behind Kershaw and Greinke, the Dodgers got 31 starts from Anderson, 21 from Mike Bolsinger, 13 from Carlos Frias and 12 from Alex Wood.
But that was last season, and of all the position groups on the roster, none figures to have as exciting as an off-season as the starting rotation.
Free agents: Brett Anderson, Zack Greinke
Greinke is the headliner for the entire free agent class, but Anderson isn’t too shabby an option either.
Greinke finished with a 1.66 ERA and 0.84 WHIP on the way to what is expected to be a second Cy Young Award of his career. Based on estimations, Greinke is likely to receive a contract of five to six years with a value of over $150 million.
Anderson, while seemingly unappreciated by Dodgers fans, may have been the unsung hero of the team (if not for Bolsinger). He managed to stay healthy all season and finishing with a 3.69 ERA and 18 quality starts.
As a note, Anderson was extended a one-year qualifying offer by the team, but no player has ever accepted said qualifying offer.
CONTINUE READING: Returning Starters And Potential Signings
